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During a revealing discussion, the acclaimed performer delves on subjects as varied as her newest character as a regal sea creature to the profound lessons learned through onstage mishaps and meeting admirers.

If You Could Be a Fish for a Day

The most recent character portrays Queen of the Cuttlefish in The Pout-Pout Fish; supposing you had the opportunity to be a fish for a day, which one would it be and why?

Straight away, that particular fish residing near a specific shoreline – since it is a local landmark, and people go there specifically to spot it. It strikes me it’s cool that there’s a local fish that folks genuinely seek out and talk about – it’s a special fish.

A Cinematic Staple to Revisit

What film do you repeatedly watch, and why?

Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 comedy To Be Or Not To Be. I adore this picture. When I was childhood, it would air on television every now and again, and one time I recorded it. I found it was hilarious. It stars the legendary Carole Lombard and comedian Jack Benny. Recently they were playing it at a cinema and I discovered that it was the preferred movie of an acquaintance, and so we attended and simply chuckled and laughed. It’s such great piece of humor and the entire cast in it are superb. Mel Brooks remade it in the 1980s – which was not successful. But the original film is an exceptional farce, worth viewing regularly.

The Best Insight Learned From a Fellow Actor

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from someone a colleague?

Years ago I performed in A Doll’s House alongside Peter O’Brien – my husband now, but at the time we were not a couple. We portrayed characters as scene partners and during the premiere I tripped up – I jumped ahead a few lines in the script. I didn’t know of my error but I suddenly realised things were off. I remember looking at him, and he expertly rescued the moment, and then the scene regained momentum and went really, really well. But I think the insight gained in that moment was, first, always trust the individuals in your scene. If you don’t know where you are, if you turn around and toward the actors you’re with, you can rediscover your correct position in some way. It’s such communal thing, performing live. And next, to maintain a lighthearted attitude regarding it. Sometimes when something goes wrong, things actually spark off in a wonderfully positive direction provided you are fully engaged then. It may become an unexpected boon when things go completely the wrong way.

Memorable Exchanges with Admirers

Can you describe your most touching interaction with a fan?

There isn't a single specific meeting but when I encounter devotees of Lord of the Rings, particularly women, I hear a lot of stories about how that character meant to them when they were growing up … events that occurred in their lives and how much Eowyn signified for them and was a form of support to them in those times.

Which questions get asked most frequently by Lord of the Rings fans?

The most detailed inquiry concerns always about that infamous meal that Eowyn serves Aragorn. “Was the stew really that bad?” It has evolved into such a joke, the entire episode about the stew, and everyone wants to know what was in the stew, and how was it made, and do you think she’s a better cook now, or do you think she really is a poor chef? People are, I think, fascinated by the comedy of that situation. And I go into great detail listing the components that made up the concoction – because I remember the efforts made; like they even put bits of colored thread to simulate the appearance like bits of veins in the meat. They went to great detail to make it look as unappetizing as possible.

A Cringeworthy Celebrity Encounter

What was your most embarrassing celebrity encounter?

I was at a fitness session and there was a woman lying down exercising, and the instructor remarked, “Hello Miranda, meet Miranda.” And I made a lighthearted remark about, “oh, are you a journalist?” Because it’s an uncommon moniker and most of the time when I meet another Miranda, they work in media. I hadn't properly seeing who it was. And as she rose, it was Miranda Richardson. At that point, I didn’t know words. I still had to stay and do my class, and I felt so embarrassed. I wished to explain: “Oh my gosh, I do know who you are!” I think she’s so fabulous and I was just too starstruck to utter a syllable.

The Origin of a Name

Articles have repeatedly stated that you were named after Prospero’s daughter in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and yet you've mentioned you saying otherwise – can you settle the matter once and for all?

Indeed, I was named after the Sydney suburb. Mum heard on the radio that they were inaugurating a mall at Miranda, and she thought seemed a nice name.

Pandemonium on Location

What was the chaotic thing that’s ever happened on set?

When I was working in Brazil for the film Reaching for the Moon that was the least organized set I’ve ever worked on, and yet the film turned out brilliantly. But they just work in such a different way. Their concept of time there is really different. In Australia, you normally have a schedule and must arrive on set by a certain time. But this was sort of open ended – one would appear at one's convenience. It was a really different way of working for me. The elements were all coming together at the very last minute, and sometimes the plan was unclear where they were shooting or the methodology. And then you’d be in during a scene and wondering, “What was that noise that just interrupted the scene? Oh, it’s a crew member opening a bottle during filming, because he’s making a party.” The result was excellent, but goodness, it’s a distinct style of film-making.

A Secret Skill

What are you secretly good at?

I’ve always been an aptitude for numbers. I retain numbers easier than I memorise words often, I simply have a numerically-oriented mind. So I think if I hadn’t pursued acting, I probably would have worked in something to do with numbers, like math or finance.

The Finest Guidance Given

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

During my time in high school, a speaker came to speak as we were graduating and stated, “have no fear to fail” … an idea I consider is the best piece of advice, since one gains so much more from setbacks than you learn from triumph. Success, one rarely understand precisely why it happened. With failure, you learn so much more.